Control device with luminous indicator



I 1952 fr. D. DE YILARRAZA Y SEGURA 2,617,910

I I CONTROL DEVICE WITH LUMINOUS INDICATOR v Filed May 25, 1949 INVENTOR. E350 Dmz 0E ILARR ZA SE6 ua Patented Nov. 11 l 952 CONTROL DEVICE WITH -LUMINOUS INDICATOR 'Tirso Diaz deillarraza y Segura, Barcelonaspaiin" nitration May 25, 9 .S i N9- 9.5274

In Spain May 25, 19,48

1 Claim.

1 This invention refers to certain-improvements introduced into control devices-in electrical installations, provided with ,their'own means of luminous signs or signalsby which the elements of electrical installation are economical and give very efficient results with regard to luminous signs, the object of which is to facilitate the localization or finding of i the element or switch, etc. in the dark.

The object of this patent is not the sign, properly so called, but the devices in which that sign is shown in a concrete, easy and feasible way within the limited space offered by a normal or common element of electrical installation (switch, bellpush-button, wall-plug, etc.)-

By the improvements which are the object of this invention, the forming in a single or whole piece of the sign device and the remainin component parts of the electric element, are obtained and the improvements are completely independent of the general installation, in the sense that there is no need of any variation or alteration in this installation for the application of the said elements, and without any need of employing any kind of transformer for the pilot-lamp of the sign or signal, as occurs with filament lamps, which although they may be constructed of very small size, are never small enough to allow of their being completely lodged or contained within the space disposable inside an installation element (switch, push-button, wallplug, etc.)

The improvements which are the objects of this patent offer every advantage with respect to duration, minimum consumption, etc, as well as that of being able to form an integral part of the bodies of the electric elements without it being necessary to increase the size of these latter. It is possible, besides this, to disconnect the pilotlamp from the element by means of the application of a small device that will not produce sparks, because it acts between resistances placed within the installation element'itself. In this way the said small pilot-lamp may be disconnected, when it is desired, and the general circuit is in no way affected by it.

Some arrangements of signals or signs on electric elements are already known, in which the small localizing or pilot lamp is placed on the controlling knob, handle or lever itself.

This arrangement has a serious drawback or disadvantage, for with the continuous working and displacement of that knob or lever, the conductors or wires of the pilot lamp sufier greatly, and it becomes necessary to substitute and renew them continually.

,This disadvantageland many other, drawbacks from which theseusual systems-suffer, are completely eliminated and 'avoided bythe object of this patent, which, as has'alread'ybeen stated, is

devoted to the constitution or formation of a single whole piece for the installation element, switch, plug, etc., and the signal or sign device, which is reduced to a small pilot lamp of noble or excitable gasses, the placing of a suitable res'istance or resistances has also been provided for.

For the better understanding of the present descriptive memorial it is accompanied by a drawing in which, only as an example, are shown several elements of an apparatus provided with the signal or sign device to which refer the improvements that are the object of the invention.

In the said drawing, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show an embedded type of switch.

In the example shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, the general constitution of these elements of installation can be seen, and it will be noticed that in outside appearance the device does not difier from the normal or common ones. It is formed, like the latter, by a supporting-plate I, which has holes 2 for the fixing screw-s.

The little box 3 of the embedded type of switch in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, forms a unit with the small plates or plaques 4, which have a double elbow in the form of a U, 5, for holding the small or pilot lamp of noble or excitable gas 6. This same plate or plaque 4 forms an appendix 1 at right angles for the screw 8 which holds the ring or washer 9 fixed to the resistance [0. The opposite end of this resistance [0 has a piece I l similar to that of 9, which is in contact with the metallic-elbow 12 through the screw l3. One of the branches of this elbow-piece l2 enters the small box 3, provided with the terminals or screws [4, for connection to the electric feed- Wires or conducting-line.

As may be seen, the resistances l0 are placed on the back of the wall of the little box 3, taking up a minimum of space. Thanks to the placing at its ends of the rings or washers 9 and II, which may be closed or open, the fixing and unfixing of the element of installation, switch, plug, etc., is greatly facilitated.

The illumination or light from the small or pilot-lamp 6 is visible from the outside through the hole I 5 in which a small translucid or transparent button It may be placed.

The essential features of the invention may be summarized in the following words:

To form one single concrete whole, composed of the resistances, the pilot-lamp and the element of installation, switch, push, plug, etc., in

such a way, however, that the group of control, consisting of the various pieces of contact (in the case of embedded elements) may be separated and removed from the fixing-plate, and that, the resistances as well as the lamp, may be taken out of the whole element (in the case of wall elements).

It is quite understood, of course, that both the resistances as well as the lamp are independent.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An electrical installation such as a wall switch, bell, wall plug, or the like, comprising, in combination, a front plate having a front and rear surface and adapted to be mounted on a wall, said front plate being formed with an opening passing therethrough; a box mounted on the rear face of said front plate to enclose moving parts of the electrical installation; a pair of electrically conductive supports mounted on said rear face of said front plate adjacent to said box; electrically conductive means operatively connected to said supports for leading current thereto; a

bulb removably mounted on said supports, said bulb being located opposite said opening of said front plate; and a body of at least partially transparent material mounted on said front plate over said opening to cover the same, whereby, when said bulb is illuminated, the light issuing therefrom is visible through said body of material mounted over said opening of said front plate so that the electrical installation may be found in the dark.

TIRSO DIAZ n2: ILARRAZA Y SEGURA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,015,698 Tiffany Oct. 1, 1935 2,021,062 Helmbright Nov. 12, 1935 2,193,740 Reed Mar. 12, 1940 2,449,150 Schnoll Sept. 14, 1948 2,512,975 Sherrard 1 June 27, 1950 

